Systems and methods for centrifugal force-based canister filling

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, systems, canisters, and other implementations, including a method of filling a filter canister with a particulate filter material to a desired packing density comprises providing a canister having a fill opening through which the particulate filter material is introduced into the canister, introducing the particulate filter material through the fill opening, and subjecting the canister to centrifugal forces for a time until the desired packing density is reached is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of filling a filter canister with a particulate filter material to a desired packing density, the method comprising:
 providing a canister having a fill opening through which the particulate filter material is introduced into the canister, wherein the particulate filter material is introduced through the fill opening from an end of the retractable application pipe; 
 introducing the particulate filter material through the fill opening; and 
 rotating the cannister using a rotation mechanism so as to subject the canister to centrifugal forces for a time until the desired packing density is reached, wherein the retractable application pipe is coupled to the rotation mechanism and the rotation mechanism is configured to actuate the retractable application pipe to cause the retractable application pipe to rotate. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein, prior to subjecting the canister to centrifugal forces, positioning the canister in a horizontal position. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein, prior to subjecting the canister to centrifugal forces, positioning the canister in a vertical position. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein, during the subjecting of the cannister to centrifugal forces, the canister is moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position, repeatedly. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filter cannister has a curved peripheral outer wall and the fill opening is in the peripheral outer wall, wherein the canister is further defined by an inlet wall that is convex, and the inlet wall and the outlet wall are spaced from each other and joined by the peripheral outer wall. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the particulate material is mixed with heterophil fibers. 
     
     
       7. A canister filling system, the system comprising:
 a reservoir containing particulate filter material; 
 a retractable application pipe coupled to the reservoir and configured to transfer the particulate filter material from an end of the application pipe coupled to the reservoir to another end of the application pipe; and 
 a rotation system to hold a filter canister with a fill opening couplable to the other end of the application pipe, the rotation system configured to rotate the filter canister so as to generate centrifugal forces applied to the filter canister for a period of time until a desired packing density of the particulate material, introducible into the filter canister through the fill opening, is reached, wherein the rotation system comprises the retractable application pipe coupled to a rotation mechanism configured to actuate the retractable application pipe to cause the retractable application pipe to rotate. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the reservoir comprises a hopper with an inwardly tapered end section defining a hopper outlet opening coupled to the retractable application pipe. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7  wherein the rotation system comprises a rotating platform. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7  wherein the retractable application pipe is configured to lock into the filter canister during rotation of the retractable application pipe. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7  wherein the rotation system comprises a rotating disk securable to the filter canister. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a controllable motor to controllably cause retraction or extension of the retractable application pipe. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the motor is controlled by a controller to determine the retraction or extension of the retractable application pipe based on data produced by the rotation system. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13  wherein the data comprises measured angular velocity of the rotation system. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a valve placed inside the retractable application pipe to control flow of the particulate material introducible into the filter canister. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a controller to controllably actuate opening position of the valve. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 7  wherein the particulate filter material is selected from the group of activated charcoals, zeolites, molecular sieves and alumina. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the rotation system comprises a rotating holding mechanism configured to hold the canister and displace the canister in multiple directions.